Elewana Elephant Pepper Camp

The Masai Mara is a vast wilderness abundant with a diverse range of fascinating wildlife, rolling plains, and lush forests. Located in the Mara North Conservancy, the heart of the Masai Mara ecosystem, Elephant Pepper Camp is the perfect base from which to explore the wonders of the Mara. Elephant Pepper Camp has been the driving force in creating the Mara North Conservancy (MNC) which covers a core parcel of over 70,000 acres bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve to the north and effectively increasing its size by 20%.

The conservancy, established in 2009, provides some of the Masai Mara ecosystem’s prime game viewing, whilst guaranteeing over 800 Masai landowners stable revenue, transparent financial management and the preservation of the ancient balance between wildlife and traditional pastoralism. Elephant Pepper Camp has worked with the local Masai community for nearly 20 years, with the creation of MNC only the latest development in preserving this vital wilderness.

Country

Kenya

Highlights

The camp’s remote location allows the stars to shine bright at night, undimmed by harsh lighting; guests enjoy the unique experience of listening to the sounds of lion, leopard and hyena foraging and hunting, whilst being cosseted with traditional and modern comforts such as a campfire and cosy duvets.

So delight in the experience of a real safari! Bear witness to a frenetic river crossing of wildebeest during the Migration, marvel at the majesty of the Mara’s big cats, bask in the glow of a spectacular Mara sunset, or sit back and relax around the campfire, and share stories of the day's safari to the stirring soundtrack of the African bush.

Need to Know

The great migration of thousands of zebra and wildebeest coming north from the arid Serengeti plains looking for fresh grazing mill around the whole of the fertile Mara eco-system for as long as the grazing lasts, usually about 4 to 5 months. The Mara River crossings happen during the middle of the day, when the animals are thirsty, come to the river to drink and are pushed across by the crowds of animals behind them. We recommend staying out for the whole day with a picnic lunch; the Elephant Pepper Camp drivers know all the crossings, including the smaller private areas that you can enjoy a few hours by the river away from the crowds.

Safaris

The Elephant Pepper Camp guides are based in camp, in the Masai Mara, and know their backyard intimately. All the guides are Bronze or Silver level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified, and some of our guides have guided in this area for 20 years! Mara North Conservancy, is a privately managed conservancy in the core of the Masai Mara, gamedriving in Mara North is restricted to those vehicles belonging to lodges within the conservancy, so Elephant Pepper guests have this outstanding part of the Masai Mara, almost to themselves.

Gamedriving is outstanding, with a resident pride of lions, cheetahs and leopard; and of course the famous zebra and wildebeest migration surrounding camp in months of July – October. Being private, yet central to the vast Masai Mara eco-system, the Elephant Pepper guides have easy access to the reserve, zebra and wildebeest crossings, and outstanding gameviewing within the conservancy. Our guides are based in camp, in the Masai Mara, and know their backyard intimately. All the guides are Bronze or Silver level Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association certified, and some of our guides have guided in this area for 20 years!

Elephant Pepper Camp has open gamedrive vehicles. The current fleet are new, specially fitted, 4×4 Toyota Landcruisers. The vehicles are unrivalled with feature enhancements specifically designed for comfort and photography – open sided with 3 rows of seats, photographic equipment stands, and charging sockets. Guests will share gamedrives unless “exclusive use of vehicle” has been prebooked at an extra charge. This is the best part of the Masai Mara – a year round game viewing experience like no other!

We are often asked why the gameviewing in Mara North Conservancy is better than in the Mara Reserve. The explanation is because cattle are not allowed into the Reserve, therefore from the months of November through to June, the grass is high within the Reserve, and the plains game, followed by their predators tend to avoid the Reserve, and stick to the Conservancy which has balanced grazing, and lush short green grass. During the months of July to October, when the zebra and wildebeest migration flood into the whole Mara eco-system, the grass in the Reserve is trampled and eaten, and gameviewing is similar within the Reserve and within the Conservancy.

Wildlife Highlights

Elephant Pepper Camp is in the heart of the Masai Mara prinme game viewing area. It is only half an hour leisurely game drive from the Mara River crossing, although most game viewing is conducted in the Mara North Conservancy which has a rich abundance of wildlife ( with the added attraction of not being with the masses during gamedrives) it's also right around camp!

The grass around the camp is very high in salts, especially near the honeymoon tent where there are natural springs during the wetter seasons, this attracts a lot of elephants that are free to roam around the camp at night time.

You can also go on bush walks with a experienced guide to explore the savannah up-close.

So come and delight in the experience of a real safari! Bear witness to a frenetic river crossing of wildebeest during the Migration, marvel at the majesty of the Mara’s big cats, bask in the glow of a spectacular Mara sunset, or sit back and relax around the campfire, and share stories of the day's safari to the stirring soundtrack of the African bush.

Facilities

Wifi, Children's menu, Gift shop & Laundry

Accommodation

Elephant Pepper Camp underwent extensive refurbishments in the beginning of 2014, and the results are impressive – if we may say so. The 8 (4 doubles & 4 twins) brand new luxury safari tents are larger, brighter and offer more spacious bathroom areas. Combined with Indian Raj Campaign furniture, mixing dark wood with intricate brass fittings, the tents have a very classy & elegant feel.

The tents are set underneath a grove of fig and Elephant Pepper Trees and are spaced out to ensure privacy. From your personal verandah or hammock you can watch wildlife roam on the savannah plains… We are also happy to announce that we have installed running water throughout the camp, including the showers – providing more comfort for you! All tents can fit one extra bed, to accommodate children under the age of 16 years. For families we recommend our brand new Family Tents. Elephant Pepper Camp’s new Honeymoon / Family Tents are the ideal accommodation for couples that want extra space and privacy and for families.

The spacious suites each comprise of an ensuite master bedroom and a sitting room, which can be converted into a second bedroom for children under the age of 16 years. The lush bathrooms have double wash basins, flush toilets and hot water showers. Located at either end of the camp, the Honeymoon / Family Suites offer spectacular views over the savannah plains from your private veranda.

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